Abstract: A system and method for receiving a medical image, receiving an adaptation of a model of a physical structure, the adaptation relating to the medical image, determining an image quantity of the medical image at each of a plurality of vertices of the adaptation and aggregating the plurality of image quantities to determine an evaluation metric.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for providing a medical tracking interface. The method comprises the steps of: receiving data from at least one tracking device in any one of a plurality of formats, converting the data to a uniform format, and outputting the data in the uniform format.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brachytherapy apparatus (1) for applying a brachytherapy to a living object. The brachytherapy apparatus comprises a planning unit (14) for determining a placing plan defining placing positions and placing times for one or several radiation sources within the living object and close to a target region. The placing plan is determined such that the placing times are within a treatment time window determined by a treatment time window determination unit (13), wherein within the treatment time window a change of a spatial parameter of the living object caused by swelling is minimized. An adverse influence on the brachytherapy due to swelling can thereby be minimized, which improves the quality of the brachytherapy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining vehicle ignition state using a device added to the vehicle after the manufacture of the vehicle without a direct connection to the vehicle ignition line are disclosed. In a number of embodiments, a system includes a processor, a motion detector configured to detect vehicle motion and to enable the processor to obtain motion data, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine location and to enable the processor to obtain at least speed data, and a radio transceiver configured to communicate with the processor. Additionally, the processor is configured to estimate the ignition state of a vehicle using at least the motion data and the speed data.

Abstract: An ultrasound treatment includes applying ultrasound at a first energy level to a region of interest in a subject for activating a cavitation nucleation agent during a first portion of a treatment cycle. Ultrasound at a second energy level is applied to the region of interest during a second portion of the treatment cycle for implementing a desired thermal therapy in the presence of the cavitation nucleation agent activated during the first portion of the treatment cycle. The second energy level is at an energy level different from the first energy level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for surgical robotic guidance include a robotic system (124) having a robot (122) configured to pass to a target through a port (134). The robotic system includes a visual component (102) employed in guiding the robot along a path to a location. The location is defined in accordance with a position and orientation of the robot. An ultrasonic probe (125) is guided by the robot to the location to permit engagement of the probe to collect ultrasonic images at the location.

Abstract: An image registration system an endoscope (12) and an endoscope controller (22). In operation, the endoscope (12) generates an intra-operative endoscopic image (14) of a vessel tree (e.g., an arterial tree or a venous tree) within an anatomical region, and the endoscope controller (22) image registers the intra-operative endoscopic image (14) of the vessel tree to a pre-operative three-dimensional image (44) of the vessel tree within the anatomical region. The image registration includes an image matching of a graphical representation of each furcation of the vessel tree within the intra-operative endoscopic image (14) of the vessel tree to a graphical representation of each furcation of the vessel tree within the pre-operative three-dimensional image (44) of the vessel tree.

Abstract: A device for delivery of a substance (144) using energy to protect, at a site of activation, against a side effect of another substance (156) that was delivered, is being delivered, and/or will be delivered, at another site. The activation may be non-invasive, remote and the energy beam (140) may be an ultrasound beam. A first of the substances can be activated at a particular energy level, and the second is then activated at a lower level so that a population of particles bearing the first substance is not inadvertently activated during activation of the second substance. The device may comprise a system to control the levels of energy applied.

Abstract: Ultrasound mediated delivery (USMD), real-time quantitative feedback derived (S264) therefrom, and proceeding by the system based on the feedback all are, in some embodiments, operable automatically and without need for user intervention. USMD may occur in a clinical setting accompanied by assays (S276) or real-time feedback, or by means of a wearable device that, based on feedback, regulates USMD in real time. Optionally, the user is provided an indication (S281) as to progress or success, of a treatment. Electrodes (128) may be attached across tissue in which transient pores are produced via sonoporation in the USMD procedure, and in vivo measurement is taken of an electrical parameter responsive to permeability. Therapeutic agent (S202) may be administered after particles activated for sonoporation are cleared from the circulation, to avoid, when it might exist, adverse interaction between the particles and agent.

Abstract: An acoustic probe (100, 300) includes an acoustic transducer (15, 444), and a plurality of variably-refracting acoustic lens elements (10, 210a, 210b, 442) coupled to the acoustic transducer. Each variably-refracting acoustic lens element has at least a pair of electrodes (150, 160) adapted to adjust at least one characteristic of the variably-refracting acoustic lens element in response to a selected voltage applied across the electrodes. In one embodiment, each variably-refracting acoustic lens element includes a cavity, first and second fluid media (141, 142) disposed within the cavity, and the pair of electrodes. The speed of sound of an acoustic wave in the first fluid medium is different than the speed of sound of the acoustic wave in the second fluid medium. The first and second fluid media are immiscible with respect to each other, and the first fluid medium has a substantially different electrical conductivity than the second fluid medium.

Abstract: An imaging correction system includes a tracked imaging probe (132) configured to generate imaging volumes of a region of interest from different positions. An image compensation module (115) is configured to process image signals from a medical imaging device associated with the probe and to compare one or more image volumes with a reference to determine aberrations between an assumed wave velocity through the region of interest and a compensated wave velocity through the region of interest. An image correction module (119) is configured to receive the aberrations determined by the image compensation module and generate a corrected image for display based on the compensated wave velocity.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus includes an elongated body having proximal and distal ends, and an acoustic transducer disposed proximate the distal end of the elongated body. A variably-refracting acoustic lens is provided to dynamically adjust a direction associated with an acoustic wave coupled to the acoustic transducer in response to one or more control signals provided thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound-image-guided system and to a volume-motion-based calibration method for operating such system. The system comprises one or more ultrasound probes (20) operable to generate image volumes (13i, 13j) of an anatomical object (10). The system further comprises an adapter device (50) comprising at least one position sensor (30), the adapter device (50) being, for one use event, attachable to one of the ultrasound probes (20). The at least one position sensor (30) is at a variable position with respect to the one or more ultrasound probes (20) from one use event to another use event. The system further comprises a tracking device (51) operable to generate tracking data (32) representative of a tracking of the at least one position sensor (30) within a coordinate system (11), and ultrasound imaging device (21) operable to generate imaging data (22) of the anatomical object (10) based on the image volumes (13i, 13j).

Abstract: A medical instrument, system and method for calibration are provided. The instrument includes a body (202) and a shape sensing system (204) coupled to the body to permit determination of a shape of the body. A memory element (205, 206) is coupled to the body and configured to store data associated with calibration of the body, the data being readable through a cable (210) connectable to the body so that the data permits calibration of the body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining vehicle ignition state using a device added to the vehicle after the manufacture of the vehicle without a direct connection to the vehicle ignition line are disclosed. In a number of embodiments, a system includes a processor, a motion detector configured to detect vehicle motion and to enable the processor to obtain motion data, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine location and to enable the processor to obtain at least speed data, and a radio transceiver configured to communicate with the processor. Additionally, the processor is configured to estimate the ignition state of a vehicle using at least the motion data and the speed data.

Abstract: An ultrasound device including an ultrasonic transducer device having a plurality of transducer elements forming a transducer array is provided. Each transducer element includes a piezoelectric material disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. One of the first and second electrodes is a ground electrode and the other of the first and second electrodes is a signal electrode. The ultrasound device further includes a cable assembly having a plurality of connective signal elements and a plurality of connective ground elements extending in substantially parallel relation therealong. Each connective element is configured to form an electrically-conductive engagement with respective ones of the signal electrodes and the ground electrodes of the transducer elements in the transducer array. The connective ground elements are alternatingly disposed with the connective signal elements across the cable assembly, to provide shielding between the connective signal elements.

Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (“ICD”) comprises a battery, control circuitry and a capacitor assembly. The capacitor assembly includes at least one capacitor, a flex circuit for connection to the control circuitry of the ICD and a first and second support portions. The flex circuit is arranged between the first and second support portions and includes a plurality of tangs for connecting to the anode and cathode of the capacitor(s), as well as to the control circuitry of the ICD.

Abstract: An optical motion sensing system (10) for use in imaging an anatomical structure employs an optical motion sensor (20) including a body contour conforming matrix (“BCCM”) (30) and an optical fiber (40). Upon BCCM (30) being adjoined to the anatomical structure, BCCM (30) structurally conforms at least partially to a surface contour of the anatomical structure for reciprocating any motion by the anatomical structure. Optical fiber (40) is at least partially embedded in the BCCM (30) for generating an encoded optical signal (42) indicative of a shape of the optical fiber (40) responsive to any SOS reciprocal motion by the BCCM (30) during an imaging of the anatomical structure. System (10) further employs a motion tracker (50) responsive to encoded optical signal (42) for periodically reconstructing the shape of optical fiber (40) with each change in the shape of optical fiber (40) representing motion by the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for tracking a functional part of an instrument during an interventional procedure and displaying dynamic imaging corresponding to a functional part of the instrument. The system comprises: at least one instrument; a system for acquiring anatomical images relevant to guiding the instrument; a tether connected to the imaging system at a fixed end and connected to the instrument at a distal end, the tether comprising at least one longitudinal optical fiber with a plurality of optical shape sensors; an optical console that interrogates the sensors and detects reflected light; and a processor that calculates local curvature at each sensor location to determine the three-dimensional shape of the tether and determines the location and orientation of the instrument relative to the images using the local curvatures of the tether and the location of the fixed end of the tether.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining vehicle ignition state using a device added to the vehicle after the manufacture of the vehicle without a direct connection to the vehicle ignition line are disclosed. In a number of embodiments, a system includes a processor, a motion detector configured to detect vehicle motion and to enable the processor to obtain motion data, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine location and to enable the processor to obtain at least speed data, and a radio transceiver configured to communicate with the processor. Additionally, the processor is configured to estimate the ignition state of a vehicle using at least the motion data and the speed data.